Men's Basketball Knocks Down Undefeated Trinity (Conn.) University

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (December 10, 2022) – Western New England's men's basketball team had a battle with the Trinity College Bantams on their home court today and gave the Bantams their first loss of the season, 80-78, after two halves of play.

Records:

• Western New England: 7-2
• Trinity College: 9-1

How It Happened: The Golden Bears had the first four points of the ballgame and held on to that four-point lead for a few plays. Trinity College evened up then had their first lead into six minutes of play 11-10 after being fouled on a trip to the hoop. Cody Palazzeli knocked in a three-point shot, Tim Restall with a layup, Golden Bears back on top. A three and a couple of layups for the Bantams brought them the game lead back. The Golden Bears closed the gap to two, but Trinity maintained the lead. Restall hit a couple of top of the key threes to keep WNE close, but they couldn't stop the Bantams from hitting the scoreboard. Gavin Greene tied it up in the final 2:26 of the first, 35-35, with a bucket for two. Jake Harrison put them ahead two, and Trinity immediately answered with layup and a foul shot. The two teams exchanged baskets, and the Bantams added one more, two seconds left of the half to bring the score to 42-39 Bantams.

A minute of play before the Bantams laid one in. They hit a three after some Golden Bear free throws, another layup, a jump shot, and another three, and The Bantams had a 11-point lead 54-43, 15:25 on the clock. Greene got five straight points, and the Golden Bears only trailed by six. The Bantams were hot from the three-point line, knocking in another one for a nine-point lead. WNE kept it interesting, answering every Trinity Basket with one of their own. They started getting stops and a three from Brian Geitner and a Nate Kasper free throw made it a one-point game, 61-60. The Bantams hit yet another three, but the Golden Bears earned a tie score following a jay knocked in by Geitner and two more from Greene, 64-64. A couple more even scores and WNE finally got their lead back 5:54 left in the game. Harrison was fouled on a made hoop, plus one on the line. Another tied score, and another Restall three. This gave the Golden Bears a chance to capitalize on being ahead, although it remained a close battle with the Bantams only trailing one or two points. Palazzeli's three pointer was huge for WNE with two minutes left on the clock, 79-74. Trinity forced a one-point score and had a chance to take the lead. Palazzeli nailed one in on the foul line, nine seconds to go, and the Golden Bears closed it out on top 80-78.

In the Paint:

• As a team, the Golden Bears shot 51.7 percent from the floor, 26.9 percent from the three, and 73.3 percent from the foul line while gathering 29 rebounds, 13 assists, four steals and two blocks.
• The Bantams shot 42.3 percent from the hardwood, 27.3 percent from beyond the arc, and 85.7 percent from the free throw line while tallying 32 rebounds, 11 assists, four steals, and two blocks.
• The Golden Bears were led by Tim Restall who recorded a double-double with 25 points and 12 rebounds, adding an assist and two blocks. He went 9-15 from inside the paint, 3-6 from the three, and 4-5 from the free-throw line.  
• Jake Harrison and Gavin Greene added 18 points to the final score.

Up Next: The Golden Bears won't be back in action until after the New Year in a road conference match up against the Nichols College Bison on Tuesday, January 3, for a 7:30 tip-off.